# Real Lives, Real Stories: The Power of Information in Asia Pacific URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/real-lives-real-stories-the-power-of-information-in-asia-pacific Type: Publication or report Published: 2019-09-26 Updated: 2020-04-02 --- 26 September 2019 Freedom of information is not only a human right, but an important tool to engage and empower citizens. It allows them to demand accountability from governments and fight corruption. In this publication, we focus on the people who make right to information laws come to life, and who use them as tools to fight corruption. In the following pages, you will find the stories of citizens from 10 countries across the Asia Pacific region who have used their right to information to demand accountability from their governments. From uncovering wrongdoing in Bangladesh and Mongolia, to ensuring that citizens get the services they need in Cambodia and Sri Lanka, and from holding politicians to account in the Maldives to ensuring that governments share key guidance and statistics in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, these stories show the difference access to information can make. ### Related publications ## [Regional Assessment of Integrity in Political Finance in South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/integrity-political-finance-asia) Publication • 03 September 2026 This report reviews systems across 17 countries to identify the areas of political finance most in need of reform. ## [Connecting the Dots: How financial intelligence units expose corrupt money flows and how they could do more](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/connecting-the-dots) Publication • 24 June 2026 Financial intelligence units can play a key role in uncovering corruption, but only if they have the powers, resources and access to information they need. ## [Strengthening Public Oversight: Good practices for partnerships between civil society and supreme audit institutions](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/strengthening-public-oversight-good-practices-for-partnerships-between-civil-society-and-supreme-audit-institutions) Publication • 29 May 2026 Stronger collaboration between Supreme Audit Institutions and Civil Society Organisations is needed for better public financial oversight. ## [Public debt confidentiality: Separating fact from fiction](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/public-debt-confidentiality-separating-fact-from-fiction) Publication • 15 December 2025 Citizens have a right to know about their country's debt because public debt is the public's debt. ## Priorities - [Right to information](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/right-to-information) ## Countries - [Bangladesh](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/bangladesh) - [Cambodia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/cambodia) - [Indonesia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/indonesia) - [Maldives](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/maldives) - [Mongolia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/mongolia) - [Nepal](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/nepal) - [Pakistan](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/pakistan) - [Papua New Guinea](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/papua-new-guinea) - [Sri Lanka](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/sri-lanka) - [Vietnam](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/vietnam) ## Projects - [Accountability in Asia Pacific](https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/accountability-in-asia-pacific) ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2019_Report_RealLivesRealStoriesPowerInformation_English1_116.jpg?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) [Download](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2019_Report_RealLivesRealStoriesPowerInformation_English.pdf)